Regeneration cycle check

Thanks for the info....I always thought they all worked together....

BTW, DEF and the DPF have nothing to do with one another. DEF is used to reduce oxides of nitrogen. The DPF is the particulate filter (nitrogen oxides are entirely gaseous). These are two separate systems for two entirely different pollutants, and as such they can malfunction separately as well.

BMW, the maker of my TV, wanted everything to do with the DEF and DPF to be invisible to owners, so I had to find a way around that just for my own peace of mind, since clogged DPFs are expensive to fix.

I bought a Blue Driver dongle and the free software to monitor it. There are many other similar devices/systems to do the same things. I use it to monitor both the engine coolant temperatures and the exhaust gas temperatures, especially when towing, because I am very much concerned not to overheat the engine in the mountains (never been a problem with the bimmer, but boy was it an issue with the Jeep). The exhaust gas temperature tells me when a DPF regeneration occurs.

Under normal circumstances, and depending on the load, ambient temps, etc. the exhaust gas temperature will run in the vicinity of 300°C, a little lower idling around town, a little higher cruising down the road, a bit higher still climbing a hill with the TT in tow. A DPF regeneration causes the exhaust gas temperature to go up over 500°C, sometimes as high as 550°C. When I see one of those, I've been known to extend my drive a bit until it ends on its own, usually about 15 minutes after it starts.

So you could check yours with an EGT gauge, or Blue Driver, or any other system that lets you monitor EGT.

Read the thread above, good info. Thanks!

Yes, we have the DEF system.

Here's a good thread on the subject from last year.

Do you have DEF also?

MM.

Mama always said if’n it ain’t broke...don't try to check it.